Jeffrey Dean Morgan Reveals 'Unhealthy' Way He Lost Weight For ‘Texas Rising’; See Photos Of Actor's Transformation

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (left), pictured with Bill Paxton (right) at the A&E Networks portion of the 2015 Winter Television Critics Association press tour on Jan. 9, reveals the "unhealthy" way he lost weight for "Texas Rising." Photo: Getty Images

Is that you, Jeffrey Dean Morgan? The 49-year-old actor looked almost unrecognizable during the miniseries premiere of “Texas Rising,” which aired on Monday night -- and not just because of his 1830’s style or bushy beard!

The artist, who is starring in the History Channel drama based on the Texas Revolution, looked withered away when he made his small screen debut as Erastus “Deaf” Smith, a character battling advanced consumption, during the 10-hour saga. “Texas Rising” will unfold over the course of five days within the next three weeks.

“He had a consumption of tuberculosis,” Morgan explained details regarding his character’s disease on “Today” before making the shocking admission regarding how the historical series effected his health. “And so I got there and I was probably about 175. I left and I was about 130.”

Jeffrey Dean Morgan lost 45 pounds for his role in "Texas Rising."Photo: History Channel

So how did the “Grey’s Anatomy” actor manage to lose 45 pounds? Well, according to Morgan, he did it in a very dangerous fashion. “I ate a can of tuna fish a day. I did it in the most unhealthy way possible. I didn’t consult with a doctor or anything,” he confessed. The actor added that initially producers had only asked him to drop 10 pounds for the part -- but Morgan took it too far in order to embody the sickly Texas Ranger. “I just kept going and going, and by the end of the movie, I was just [moving] like a snail!”

Morgan’s grizzled character is described as a fifty-something “veteran whose hearing deficiency, coupled with an advanced case of consumption, does not dampen his fighting spirit.”

Jeffrey Dean Morgan revealed the "unhealthy" was he dropped weight for his role in "Texas Rising."Photo: History Channel

The determined ranger reportedly refused to bow out of the revolution against Mexico in 1836 despite the obstacles he faced. “Even at the brink of death, Deaf is a fierce loyalist to Texas and to Sam Houston (Bill Paxton), and he insists on riding off with the Rangers to rescue Emily West (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) from the sadistic Colonel Portilla (Harold Torres), one of Santa Anna’s right hand men.”

Are you surprise with Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s method of losing weight for a role? What did you think of his character in “Texas Rising”? Sound off in the comments section below and don’t forget to tune in to the History Channel miniseries on Tuesday, May 26, at 9 p.m. EDT.